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How To Free Pour and Why You Should.

How To Free Pour and Why You Should.

Simply put, it’s when you turn a bottle and let the liquid flow
without anything, but you, stopping the pour.

There are Measured Bottle Pourers that are often used at bars.
These pour a calibrated amount of liquid and automatically stop.
Most bartenders hate these because they don’t always work, especially
if they aren’t kept clean, which often happens in the less professional
bars.

When it comes to Free Pouring you want have Bottle Pourers that give a nice, even flow.

This even flow is important for you because this will keep your pours consistent.

When pouring hold the bottle at an angle. I suggest a 1 O’clock position for the right hand
or an 11 O’clock position with the left hand. Either side should be at least a 45 degree angle.
Once you get a good feel for pouring you will find that sweet spot that works for you.

How much should you pour?

This where you want to learn a solid and universal counting system for pouring.

The 4 count.

A count of:

4 should give you 1 ounce.
2 a half ounce and
1 a quarter ounce.

I prefer a fast 8 count.

a count of one gives a splash or 1/8 of an ounce.
The 8 count system helps refine pouring and helps give better accuracy.

Practice this by starting the pour and counting to 8. When your done measure the pour with a jigger.
The result should be 1 ounce.

If it isn’t, adjust the speed of your count. 8 = One Ounce. Don’t use 7 or 9 etc… Adjust the speed of the count
to match 8 equaling 1 ounce.

Never count past the number 8. When you making a larger pour just restart at 1.

Example of an Eight, Four count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 1, 2, 3, 4 ——-> This would be 1 and a half ounces or 1 1/2oz.
Counting past 8 will begin to throw off your pour when getting to the bigger numbers that have more syllables (Thirteen, Four teen etc…).

8 count pouring system

Count

Amount

8

1 ounce

7

7/8 ounce

6

3/4 ounce

5

5/8 ounce

4

1/2 ounce

3

3/8 ounce

2

1/4 ounce

1

1/8 ounce or splash

Now that you understand a good counting system you can pour accurately at any bar.

Some bars make their drinks with different amounts of liquor.

For example, Bar A might pour a Screwdriver with 1oz of vodka and Bar B might use 1 1/4oz of vodka.
Now you can work at either bar and pour accurately and consistently.

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